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April 16, 2007, 12:54AM
Rockets to have diet of pick-and-rolls
Suns, Jazz will provide a glimpse of what awaits in first round of playoffs
By MICHAEL MURPHY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Rafer Alston plopped into his seat in the Rockets' locker room Saturday
night, thoroughly exhausted.
Alston was happy, considering a 123-112 victory over the New Orleans/Oklahoma
City Hornets put the Rockets on the verge of clinching home-court advantage
in the first round of the playoffs.
Alston's offensive contributions ─ 21 points and 13 assists ─ were taxing
enough, but he also spent much of the night trying to keep up with Hornets
point guard Chris Paul, who riddled the Rockets for 20 points and 15 assists.
Paul worked the Hornets' pick-and-roll beautifully, with power forward David
West (33 points on 14-of-19 shooting), providing a glimpse of things to come
for the Rockets as they wind down the regular season.
"Man, we have to do a better job with our pick-and-roll coverage," said
Alston, shaking his head. "From here on out, that's all we're going to see."
That stretch continues tonight, when the Phoenix Suns, who are all about the
pick-and-roll, invade Toyota Center.
With point guard Steve Nash and talented players like Amare Stoudemire,
Shawn Marion and Leandro Barbosa, the Suns (61-19) not only have one of the
league's most devastating fast breaks but one of the best pick-and-roll
attacks. It's one the Rockets have not come close to stopping in three
previous games this season against the Suns, all losses.
Do it or die
As usual, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy boiled the pick-and-roll issue down
to the most basic level.
"I think it's either we're going to defend it better and win or we're not
going to defend it better and lose," he said. "It's really pretty simple.
It's not that complicated. And if we are always talking about how hard it is
versus how we're going to get it done, then we'll be sitting at home
lamenting our fate."
After tonight's game, the Rockets (51-29) are off to Utah, where they will
conclude the regular season against the Jazz, who have been
picking-and-rolling since the John Stockton-Karl Malone days.
Then it's on to the playoffs, where the Rockets will play the new-generation
Jazz, still one of the league's top pick-and-roll teams with point guard
Deron Williams and power forward Carlos Boozer.
It's a gantlet of elite point guards who have Alston's head swirling.
"Yeah, it's Steve Nash (tonight), then Deron Williams, Deron Williams, Deron
Williams, Deron Williams, Deron Williams," said Alston, laughing. "It
(pick-and-roll defense) is something that we have to work on. It's been our
Achilles' heel all season. We have to work on it, and we don't have much
time, because after the next two games, here comes the war."
Fourth spot on line
But first, there's tonight's skirmish, which is important because the Rockets
are looking to clinch the fourth-best record. And they're trying to do it
against the Suns, a team that has beaten the Rockets seven straight times,
scoring at least 100 points each time.
"The Suns are a team that we've been having trouble with all season long,"
said Tracy McGrady. "With their style of play, they're able to kind of take
Yao (Ming) out of the game with their quickness and length.
"I think this is a big game for us when we're trying to clinch this
home-court advantage, which is very important to us. We'll see what happens
when the ball is tossed up (today). Hopefully, we'll be well-prepared and
know the task at hand is very important."
michael.murphy@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4717573.html
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